Groundbreaking today for Chateau Carre Apartments in Gentilly

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held today at 11 a.m. for the Chateau Carre Aparments, a rehabilitated, mixed-income housing development in Gentilly with 150 one- and two-bedroom rental units. The development is located near Dillard University in the Sugar Hill neighborhood.

The Louisiana Recovery Authority and the Office of Community Development put up $8.7 million in block grant funds for the $20 million project.

Attending will be representatives from Renaissance Neighborhood Development Corporation - a subsidiary of the Volunteers of America - and Capital One Bank, along with representatives Of the LRA and state Office of Community Development and the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency.

The interior of the Hurricane Katrina-damaged complex will be completely rebuilt, and there will be a community building, including meeting space, exercise room, business center and a rental office.